Rogue heat problem mystery

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
badassissimo said:
How do I take apart a heater?
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Hello; The older style, type that had parts not to be under water and hung on the side of a tank, usually had a small screw under the top section. You sometimes also had to unscrew the fine thread temperature control knob.

I don't know about the newer type. My guess is the place to start is at the temperature knob. Good luck.
 
I wonder what happens if I try to refrigerate one. I'm also curious how to get the controller to start working since the first one seemed to not work but then did work after it was put aside for a time. Maybe it just needs a rest?
 
I took apart the two heaters I had on the 75 gallon. Both had moisture. I used the stove burner to dehydrate the foam and moisture trap. I also bent the bimetal piece so it would not be as close to the switch and would also fold in a manner that depresses the switch quicker. I got one all the way sealed up again and went ahead and put it back in the tank. The heater is set to 79 and the tank is reading 79.3 with the heater currently off. Success? The other one had it up to 81.4 earlier today before I swapped them.

Did these fail due to moisture? There were two visible drops.
 
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Also, I watched a video for building a digital thermostat that can calibrate. I ordered the parts and have the scraps to do the rest. Bye bye azoo micro[not a]controller!
 
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badassissimo said:
Did these fail due to moisture? There were two visible drops.
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I doubt it I've had a lot of heaters with moisture in them, all failed off. I had one that worked for years with water about 2 inches up the heating element. It would boil the water when running. It only failed because eventually the nichrome wire corroded through.
 
badassissimo said:
Did these fail due to moisture? There were two visible drops.
Click to expand...

Hello; This is a good question. The older style heaters had a top that was always out of the water and not sealed. Any moisture that got in would cook off as the heater warmed up.

These newer heaters are sealed and meant to be underwater. I only have one so far and it does have a small bit of moisture in it. I can see the small drops. I am using it anyway and so far it works. On the second heating season.

Good job on the DIY heater repair.
 
skjl47 said:
Hello; This is a good question. The older style heaters had a top that was always out of the water and not sealed. Any moisture that got in would cook off as the heater warmed up.

These newer heaters are sealed and meant to be underwater. I only have one so far and it does have a small bit of moisture in it. I can see the small drops. I am using it anyway and so far it works. On the second heating season.

Good job on the DIY heater repair.
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Thanks!
 
skjl47 said:
I don't know about the newer type. My guess is the place to start is at the temperature knob. Good luck.
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Oh, and the few I've disassembled it was just a matter of twisting the top off the glass tube. If there is any sealant there wasn't much. The plastic head along with the electronics and element were just pressed onto the tube. But, you've got to be VERY careful, it takes a lot of force to twist them off. If you don't have your hands well protected and the tube breaks...You're going to have a bad day.
 
TwoHedWlf said:
Oh, and the few I've disassembled it was just a matter of twisting the top off the glass tube. If there is any sealant there wasn't much. The plastic head along with the electronics and element were just pressed onto the tube. But, you've got to be VERY careful, it takes a lot of force to twist them off. If you don't have your hands well protected and the tube breaks...You're going to have a bad day.
Click to expand...

I used channel locks and a towel to get a twist then I pulled.
 
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